Archaeologist digs history

GREENLAND — An archaeological dig under way at the Weeks Brick House has so far revealed nothing spectacular, but it has turned up hints of life on the property dating as far back as the 1700s.

Comment

By Karen Dandurant

seacoastonline.com

By Karen Dandurant

Posted Jul. 7, 2007 at 2:00 AM

By Karen Dandurant
Posted Jul. 7, 2007 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

GREENLAND — An archaeological dig under way at the Weeks Brick House has so far revealed nothing spectacular, but it has turned up hints of life on the property dating as far back as the 1700s.

"What we get is a snapshot of how people lived their lives throughout the years," said Neill DePaoli, Ph.D., of Portsmouth, who is heading the dig. "We can even date pieces back to when Weeks was probably living in the house at the time."

For example, DePaoli said a piece of English brown stoneware was probably from the household of Walter Weeks, son of Samuel, who was sired by Leonard Weeks. Leonard Weeks was the first to arrive in Greenland, and historians think his original house stood on the property, pre-dating the brick house.

Among the other items found are a skillet, beer bottles, pots, pans, pieces of a fireplace kettle and lots of coal ash, the likely source of early heat for the home.

DePaoli hopes that digging near the side windows will reveal traces of the original casement windows, either the small diamond-shape panes or traces of the lead that held each segment together.

Historian Paul Hughes said the Weeks House might be the oldest brick house in New England.

"There was a longtime rumor that it was built in 1630, but there's no credibility to that," said Hughes. "It was built about 1710."

DePaoli said the dig is planned for 2½ weeks.

"The Weeks descendents want to reconstruct an ell that we know was here," he said. "It was torn down for insurance purposes, being in bad shape. We are trying to find out how old the ell was. We also want to know if it had anything to do with Leonard. Was the ell his house? We want to know how the house evolved over time. What was added or taken away?"

DePaoli said as a teen, Leonard Weeks came to America from Wells, England, in 1640, a servant to wealthy merchant Captain Francis Champernowne.

"Champernowne may be buried somewhere between the fourth and seventh holes of the Portsmouth Country Club," said DePaoli. "I'd love to dig there, but it isn't too likely."

By 1660, property was deeded to Leonard, and it appears he built his house.

"He was here on the property until he died in 1707," said DePaoli.

DePaoli said that up to 1725, Greenland was a parish of Portsmouth, and the main "highways" were waterways. He's trying to find out if Leonard's house might have been closer to the Winnicut River, a route to Portsmouth.

"There's a graveyard right by the water," he said. "Leonard and Samuel are likely buried there. It was a quick way to move bodies."

"No embalming done then," quipped Hughes.

Charred items, some fused together, are evidence of a 1938 fire that destroyed much of the barn and ell. Hughes said it was arson, one of several in Greenland at the time.